By Greg Fry

Province closing catch-and-release fishery to promote steelhead conservation

Aug 31, 2018 | 9:50 AM

KAMLOOPS — Attention anglers.

Victoria is closing all angling on the Thompson River below Kamloops Lake, and on portions of the Fraser River, in response to low steelhead returns.

“The closure will be in effect from Oct. 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019, says the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “Angling will be closed from the Highway 99 Bridge at Lillooet downstream to BC Hydro’s tail race outflow channel and from the confluence with Thompson River downstream to the CNR Bridge.”

This following an emergency assessment earlier this year by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) on Thompson and Chilcotin steelhead. Both populations are being considered for listing as endangered and COSEWIC has recommended an emergency listing order under the federal Species at Risk Act.

“Even though catch-and-release opportunities account for a very small percentage of annual steelhead mortality, in order to support COSEWIC’s recommendations, this closure will remove remaining steelhead recreational catch-and-release opportunities and associated mortalities,” says the ministry.

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